The Emperor's heart is won, she sits on the Phoenix Throne! The Divine Physician's Eldest

“Miss, you’re really amazing. You rejected them so easily. Young Master Huo ran away so quickly, and it seems that the Duchess of Dingguo is not satisfied either. They definitely won’t come again.”

Yu Xiang took the handkerchief and put it into her sleeve, asking curiously, "Miss, how do you know that Young Master Huo and the Duchess of Dingguo don't like demure ladies?"

Song Siyao possessed a photographic memory. Fortunately, Cang Yue gave her the intelligence that Tianji Pavilion had collected over the years, which allowed her to know Huo Ye and the Duchess of Dingguo's likes and dislikes.

"They don't dislike ladies, but they dislike those who pretend to be ladies when they are not, acting coy and pretentious, without any sincerity or frankness."

My lady, my gentleman is good.

Who wouldn't like a true lady?

Song Siyao borrowed the fish-scented handkerchief just now to make herself look more pretentious.

Hong Shao breathed a sigh of relief. "She rejected the marriage proposal from the Duchess of Dingguo without offending them. It's perfect."

"Alright, let's get to work. Yu Xiang, you're in charge of recruiting workers. They need to be clean, quick, and have a sweet tongue. I'll train them." Song Siyao instructed.

"Yes, ma'am."

Song Siyao wanted to take advantage of the Mid-Autumn Festival to make a big sale.

Yu Xiang spent three days recruiting people, and Song Siyao spent ten days training them. Next, they prepared the ingredients.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the painting competition held by Qingyun Academy began.

Today is the fifth day of the eighth lunar month.

As soon as Song Siyao stepped out of the gate of the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion, he saw the carriage of the Prince of Ling's mansion parked there.

“Miss Song, over here.” Wei Xin greeted Song Siyao.

As Song Siyao approached, Wei Xin lifted the carriage curtain and said, "The prince is waiting for you in the carriage."

"Your Highness, what brings you here?" Song Siyao asked.

Shen Pei's eyes shone like stars. "I'll go with you to the competition. Get in the car."

Song Siyao instructed Cang Yue behind her, "You should go back first."

"Yes, Miss, I will come to pick you up after your competition." Cang Yue bowed respectfully.

“No need, I’ll take her back after the competition,” Shen Pei said.

Cang Yue ignored Shen Pei's words and looked at Song Siyao. Song Siyao nodded, and then he turned and left.

"Miss Song, where did you hire these guards? They seem quite loyal to you," Shen Pei asked casually.

“I found him on the street. I saved his life, and he came to repay my kindness,” Song Siyao said truthfully.

Shen Pei asked seriously, "Is it believable? Should I check it out?"

“No need, it’s believable.” Song Siyao knew Shen Pei’s worries, fearing that Cang Yue was deliberately placed by someone with ulterior motives.

She didn't plan to tell Shen Pei the secrets of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion for the time being. She didn't know her true identity or her purpose, and she didn't want to involve Shen Pei.

So she changed the subject, "Your Highness, don't you dislike going out to such noisy places?"

"I've suddenly developed a liking for it recently," Shen Pei said casually.

Wei Xin couldn't help but interject from outside, "Miss Song, ever since we met, wherever you go, my prince likes to go too."

"Wei Xin!" Shen Pei scolded, but his eyes kept glancing at Song Siyao's face, wanting to see how Song Siyao would react to such ambiguous words.

Song Siyao remained calm, as if she had heard something insignificant.

His eyes darkened, and a sense of loss washed over him.

"Wei Xin is talking nonsense, don't take it to heart. I'll teach him a lesson when we get back."

Shen Pei's frank explanation seemed somewhat like an attempt to cover up the truth.

He carefully concealed his feelings, fearing that Song Siyao would reject him outright.

He knew he was someone who didn't deserve to be loved.

His mother abandoned him, and because of his mother, his father was not close to him.

In retrospect, before he met Song Siyao, the only ray of light in his life was given by Song Siyan.

"I understand." Song Siyao smiled faintly, her tone indifferent.

No one in this world will be kind to another person for no reason.

She understood that Shen Pei was kind to her because of Song Siyan.

Otherwise, why would Shen Pei, a complete stranger to her, trust her upon their first meeting, help her when she broke off her relationship with Meng Zhanting, protect her when she returned home, and even use his military power to protect her at the Empress's birthday banquet...

She believed that every single good thing Shen Pei did was evidence that he cared about Song Siyan.

Recalling the information Cang Yue had given her about Shen Pei, she understood where the sense of brokenness in Shen Pei came from.

However, Shen Pei, despite being like this, helped her on several occasions.

It's like someone in boundless darkness, unable to see the light themselves, yet still smiling and comforting those around them.

It's heartbreaking.

However, what she didn't know was that Shen Pei was only like this to her; he was exceptionally indifferent to others.

Otherwise, how did this cold-faced prince get the nickname "Living Yama"?

However, Song Siyao was so engrossed in the mountain that he couldn't see its true face.

One of them dared not speak, but silently protected her. The other, unable to see clearly, thought that her kindness towards her was because of her brother.

Wei Xin, the outsider who sees everything most clearly, cannot say too much.

"Don't be nervous in this competition. It doesn't matter if you don't get first place. The important thing is to have fun. If you like the paintings of the painting master, I will buy them for you. If you want to become the last disciple of the top painter in the academy, I can also ask him to take you on as a disciple."

Upon hearing Shen Pei's words, Song Siyao's smile deepened, and she teased, "Your Highness is truly omnipotent."

Seeing Song Siyao smile, the gloom in Shen Pei's heart dissipated, and his voice became even gentler, "In short, just remember what I said."

Song Si nodded, his gaze open and his smile gentle. "Thank you, Your Highness."

As they talked, they soon arrived at the entrance of Qingyun Academy.

As soon as Song Si got off the carriage, he saw a large crowd gathered at the entrance of Qingyun Academy.

The painting competition was held in the Hundred Flowers Garden of Qingyun Academy.

The Hundred Flowers Garden, meaning "a hundred flowers blooming," is a very large open space where students of the academy usually debated their ideas.

This painting competition was open to the public; the paintings were created on the spot, and the results were announced immediately.

Therefore, this competition allows spectators to watch and supervise.

Aside from the contestants, most of the people at the entrance were spectators.

"Some people are really shameless. They were just kicked out, and they've already hooked up with other men."

At that moment, a sarcastic voice came from behind Song Si.

Song Siyao turned around and saw Wei Hongjin walking towards her with an arrogant expression.

She retorted coldly, "Whose dog isn't leashed and keeps biting people? If it has rabies, it should take its medicine properly and not run around like that."

It's just being sarcastic and sarcastic; anyone can do that.

Upon hearing this, Wei Hongjin immediately lost her composure and shouted, "How dare you, Song Siyao, insult this princess! Kneel down and apologize to this princess right now, or I'll smash your mouth open today!"

"I clearly called it a dog just now. Did I mention your name?" Song Siyao asked with a sneer.

"You!" Wei Hongjin gritted her teeth, looking Song Siyao up and down, and said sarcastically, "A man who would be interested in someone like you, a second-hand commodity, must be no good either!"